Sealy Outdoors, Inc. has made another big splash in the fishing world with the latest in its series of amateur angling events, The McDonalds Big Bass Splash®. The 19th Annual event for Toledo Bend Reservoir, sponsored locally by LJ and Norma Langlois and the Leesville/Deridder McDonalds® Restaurants and hosted by the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana was held at Cypress Bend Park and drew 1,958 entries, the third highest count in its history.
The tournament which benefits Ronald McDonald Houses® and Select McDonalds® Charities is always a highpoint for the Louisiana/Texas lake and brings thousands of anglers into both Sabine Parrish and Sabine County each June. This years event raised a total of $9,790 for the charities and that check was presented to the representatives who joined event creator and Master of Ceremonies, Bob Sealy, on stage for the closing ceremonies held on Sunday afternoon.
Also presented as part of the event were the Toledo Bend Louisiana Lunker replica mount trophies, co-sponsored by Toledo Town and Tackle and the Toledo Bend Louisiana Lake Association. A total 23 replicas were presented to anglers who had caught and brought in alive, a 10.00+ pound bass to Toledo Town & Tackle during the previous year. Program spokesman, John Dean, of Reaction Lures stated that funding for the trophies is split between the two co-sponsors, and that while all fish are cared for over a period of 24 hours then released back into the lake, any fish weighing above the 12.00 mark are given into the care of the Louisiana Game and Fish commission.
Another group who made a splash at the event was the East Texas Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs crew. This group of energetic kids assisted in the tournament by running fish from the weigh stage back to the Shimano Live Release Boat operated by the SRA. On both Friday and Saturday afternoons, once the Little Anglers Division of the tournament had concluded, the group also conducted a casting contest for any kids ages 17 and under in which they could compete for prizes such as Shimano Rods and Reels.
What brings anglers back year after year to this one-of-a-kind tournament? The challenge of catching one BIG bass that will take top honors, and of course, the guaranteed $360,000 payback! This years event showcased a grand prize of an H3 Hummer and Triton/Mercury boat fully rigged with Lowrance Electronics and a Minn Kota trolling motor. This honor was picked up by Jefferson, Texas angler Calvin Runnels and caught the 10.30 pound lunker bass on a wacky worm bait.
Second place overall was a Dodge truck furnished by Weaver Motors of Kirbyville, Texas, won by Jack Carroll of Lufkin, Texas with a 9.88 pound bass, followed by third, a Cherokee travel trailer won by David Perales of Oakdale, La. with a 9.88 pounder; fourth place, a Honda ATV won by Blountsville Ala. Angler William Copeland with a 9.45 bass, and fifth place another Honda ATV, won by David Soileau of Ville Platte, La.
These prizes were in addition to the twelve hourly places paid in cash which totaled a whopping $154,800! Also include on the awards agenda are three Triton/Mercury boats rigged with Minn Kota trolling and Lowrance Electronics given for the first 3.00 exact weight bass weighed in each day of the tournament, another Triton/Mercury rig for the Elimination drawing game, Five $200 Academy Sports & Outdoors gift cards given to five lucky anglers drawn from the Early Bird entries, and a Cherokee travel trailer given to one person, angler or spectator, who is drawn in the Open Drawing.
The exact weight boats went out to Larry Matthews, Jr. of Stonewall, La., Warren Pourciau of Livonia, La., and Bill Guillory of Jasper, Texas. The Elimination boat was taken home by Brian Broussard of Kaplan, La. Anglers receiving Early Bird Bonus awards were James Harris of Pearl River, La., Gerald Morse of Ft. Worth, Texas, Robert Johns of Many, La., Paxton Teddlie of Atlanta, La., and Steve Hargis of Vick La. And the grand finale of the day was the Open Draw travel trailer which went to Scott Barbe of Corrigan, Texas.
The anglers in the event, who may fish one, two, or all three days of competition, may begin fishing at 6 AM each morning from any location on the lake. The weigh scales at Cypress Bend opened at 7 AM and the anglers begin to line up and begin a processional that takes them across the stage and into the Top 12 Tent where hourly finalist are held until bumped by a heavier fish. At that point, the angler is release to go back fishing. The twelve hourly finalists are verified as winners by a process that involves a boat inspection and random polygraph examination. This continues until 3 PM each day when the scales are officially closed.
Long a promoter not only of the sport of tournament fishing, but also of involving children in the activity, founder Bob Sealy established a Little Anglers Division in which kids ages to twelve years may compete for plaques and Academy gift cards by weighing in bass, bream, crappie, or catfish up until noon each day. This not only fosters a love of the outdoors in kids, but also helps to teach them sportsmanship and conservation says Sealy.
In conjunction with Sealy Outdoors, these family, fun-filled events would not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Triton boats, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Shimano, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Lucky Craft Lures, eXmark lawn equipment, Stanley Jigs, Lowrance Electronics, Pro-Tec Products, Rat-L-Trap, Maui Jim, Spike-It, FoodSource Lures, Rejuvenade, Campbells Portable Buildings, Texas Fish & Game magazine, and Cypress Bend Resort, many of whom had representatives on-site to exhibit their products and join in the fun.
Next up in the series of McDonalds Big Bass Splash® events is the season finale to be held in September on Lake Fork. For information about this event which has a $400,000 guaranteed payback, contact Sealy Outdoors, Inc. at (888)698-2591.By: Robin Johnston
